The Forgotten Present

Mark put together one of Bea's birthday presents the night before her birthday and then put it outside so we didn't have to wrap it. She was so happy with all of the other things that she received on her birthday that we decided to leave this one outside until the next day, that was Sunday. Today, I finally let her outside in the backyard to play with it. See, technically I didn't forget that it was out there. It was sitting on the table on the patio and I shielded it from view every time they helped let the dog out. We have been so busy this week that we just haven't had the time to go out there and spend quality time with it.

But today we did...

And it was almost more fun than swinging.

Both girls took turns "accidentally" getting the other wet and getting upset at the unfairness of it all.

In Case of Emergency, Call...

My favorite time of day to run is in the early morning. It's almost chilly, super peaceful and there aren't that many runners out so I don't have to wave and say "morning" as many times. The downside is the light, there's not a whole lot of it in the early hours. And while there aren't as many cars in those early hours, their drivers are probably sleepy. 

I have contemplated the possibilities of getting hit by a car many times and hitting the pavement in a bad way. At first I though that because I ran with my iphone, if I were hit and incapable of speech whomever came upon me could call home on my phone. Then I realized that if I where so incapacitated that my phone would probably be incapacitated as well. So, I finally ordered a Road ID bracelet and I love it. I have the Wrist ID Slim. The good folks at Road ID gave me a coupon to share and a sample email in case I couldn't come up with anything to say {which follows}. Click the link and you can get $1 off of your very own Road ID, and be safe out there! 

The coupon is good until August 13, 2011.

**********BEGIN Sample Email**********

Hey Everyone,

I just ordered one of the best products ever. It's called a Road ID - perhaps you've heard of it. If you haven't, go to their website and check it out. Road ID is a great product that could save your life someday.

When I ordered, they gave me a coupon that I could pass along to my friends. Here's the coupon number:

Coupon Number: ThanksAmy8147910

The coupon is good for $1 off any Road ID order placed by 08/13/2011. To order, simply go to RoadID.com or click the link below:

http://www.RoadID.com/?CID=ThanksAmy8147910

If you prefer, you can call them at 800-345-6335.

You can thank me later,

Amy Van Horn

Oh by the way, their website is awesome, the customer service is outstanding, and the owners are very smart and good looking.

**********END Sample Email**********
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Bea Turns 2

It's official. I don't have any more "babies."

{Sadly, The Boss and Bea will probably always be called "the babies" even when they are 12 and 11. I should probably start saving for their future therapy.}

Bea loves Yo Gabba Gabba. It's her favorite TV show. Sure she can watch a Dora or a Deigo, but YGG is her go to show. So, we had a Yo Gabba Gabba Birthday party for her. Nothing fancy. It's hard to find YGG stuff around town, so I had to make my own cupcake toppers and printed out masks and decorations of all the characters that Drama cut out for me. 

Muno {red, Mark's personal fav.}, Plex {yellow robot}, Brobee {Green w/ freaky long arms}, Tootee, {blue, cat like creature}, Foofa {pink}, and of course DJ Lance Rock.

Miss Bea is an awesome 2 year old. And by awesome, I mean, A LOT of work! With three older sisters she has many examples of what you can and cannot get away with. And of course she likes to push the boundaries to see how much she can get away with.

This girl has an amazing vocabulary. She loves gymnastics and swinging and eating sand. Still pretty accident prone as her legs and sometimes her face testify. She loves to give "Big hugs" and "kisses". Most afternoons we snuggle together on the couch, she watches a Yo Gabba Gabba and I watch the inside of my eyelids with the smell of sunshine in my arms. She has the best confused or "I don't really want to do what you are asking me to do" look (it's the exact same look for both). Really, it's classic, I will have to get a picture next time.

She's amazing and can put a smile on almost anyone's face, even if the smile is because they are glad the super cute wholly terror goes home with me and not them.

;D

You Could Probably Skip this Whole Post and Just Look at the Picture...

Can it already be July 21st? 

Seriously? 

Where did the summer go?

I was contemplating catching up on all of my blog posting since I haven't posted about pooh bear's birthday...or drama's birthday...or other things (that I can't recall right now)...But I can only find two of my camera cards and pooh bear's and drama's birthday's are on the card I can't find...

Of course.

{Warning - several mega run on sentences follow, in which I attempt to explain why I am a lame blogger}


I also have to say that because picking up part time employment, raising four {ahem, high maintenance, ahem} children, pretending to be an adequate wife, finding fulfilling/educational/enriching activities for said children during the summer {Dora counts, right?}, being the best ever Webelos Den Mother {ha}, and keeping up on the housework {oh, wait, I don't really do that last one}
....because all of this left me with oodles of extra time, I have decided to train for and theoretically run a half marathon. 
That's right, I have officially lost my mind.
 Thursday mornings are my "long run", that is today if you are keeping track at home, and I have worked my way up to 9.5 miles and I am wondering how I will ever make it to 13.1 miles...by August 27. That's the date of the race by the way {haha, race, what a funny word, not at all what I will be doing. Survival, that's what I'll be attempting. So really that's the date of "Attempted Survival"}  If you want to take a moment that morning and offer a prayer {or two} that I don't keel over and die somewhere on the side of the overly hill course in Alpine. I would appreciate it. 


Anyway...
Me=Crazy Lady
Crazy Lady likes to use a lot of .... and {} in her post.


Yes, you should stop reading now, if you haven't already... and {}.


And as a reward for sticking with me through what I can only assume is a side effect of severe sleep deprivation, here is a photo, which is why you come here to begin with right? 


From Bea's birthday party, which I would really like to post... right now...but I'm so tired...5 am is very early...

She very much enjoyed dropping her ice cream onto her tray. She didn't eat it or her cupcake, just the red homemade butter cream frosting. But it was fun to play with.

4th of July Parade, Idaho Falls Style

We visited Grandma Tina and Grandpa Phil again this year for the 4th of July. This year it was a beautiful warm day and the parade was super fun. When you sit right at the beginning of the parade route you can score a lot of cool freebies. Free shirts, neck ties, water bottles, otter pops, tennis balls, sun glasses, and a gallon zip lock bag overflowing with candy. It was awesome!

 Parades are always more fun when your with the cousins.

Pooh Bear, Drama, E-man, Roo, The Boss, Grandma Tina, and Bea

In the back row, brand new cousin Roman with his dad.

Happy Birthday America!